Both agencies are part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which like much of the federal government, has seen mass layoffs as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to implement budget cuts.

Bhattacharya, a vocal critic of the country’s handling of the covid-19 pandemic, has been confirmed as the director of the National Institutes of Health.

The new director's confirmation comes as the Trump administration reportedly looks to close down the Health and Human Services (HHS) office devoted to researching Long COVID.